Vortex pump



May 20, 1958 w, uc 2,835,202

VORTEX PUMP Filed Dec. 11, 1953 INVENTOR. Francis W.Laack ain/aw 1 M ATTORNEYS.

VORTEX PUMP Francis W. Lauck, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application December 11, 1953, Serial No. 397,509

3 Claims. 01. 103-101 This invention relates to pumps and more particularly to a pump employing a vortical action to move a liquid in a substantially non-turbulent flow.

When a liquid in a container is subjected to a whirling or rotary motion it is thrown outwardly against the containing surface and tends to form a cavity or vacuum along the axis of rotation. If the outer containing surface is of a tapered shape the liquid will travel in a generally helical path along the surface to the end of the surface of greatest diameter. This action has been employed in the past in the pumping art. In general, pumps 11 of this type consist of a rotating frustro-conical cup with a fixed frustro-conical core spaced inwardly of the cup to provide a clearance therebetween. Water is introduced through an axial passage in the core to the base of the rotating cup and then is whirled outwardly within the clearance to a volute discharge channel. Pumps of tllis variety are essentially a centrifugal type and are employed for high volume, low-pressure work.

The present invention is directed: to a pump. employing a vortical motion to uniformly discharge water in a substantially non-turbulent flow. The discharge characteristics differ from that of a centrifugal or impeller-type pump in that the pump can achieve a higher pressure head at moderate and low discharge Volumes than the impeller type and discharges liquid in a uniform substantially non-turbulent flow.

According to the invention the pump comprises a cuplike or frustro-conical rotor which is rotatably mounted within a hollow casing.

The liquid to be pumped is subjected to the rotating motion of a rotor and forms a vortex while traveling in a generally helical path from the base of the cup outwardly to the discharge outlet in the casing. The central cavity or vacuum within the center of the vortex tends to draw liquid axially from the inlet in the casing to the base of the rotor. The incoming liquid is subjected to the rotating action of the liquid forming the vortex and is given a rotary motion itself, so that in effect there is an outer layer of rotating liquid moving helically from the base of the rotor axially outwardly and an inner layer of liquid moving axially inwardly within the outer layer of liquid. By this unique liquid flow the liquid. is gradually accelerated from the time it enters the pump casing rather than being abruptly accelerated; such as occurs when a liquid is acted on by impellers or paddles, so that the liquid is discharged from the pump of the invention in a substantially non-turbulent flow.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention set forth hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the pump of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

The pump shown in the drawing comprises a hollow casing formed of a generally frustrogconical or cup- United States Patent O 2,835,202 Patented May 20, 1958 shaped housing 1 enclosed by a conical cap 2. The housing 1 and cap 2 are provided with matching outwardly extending'annular flanges 3 which are attached together by boltsor the like.

The housing 1 is formed with a generally flat base and outwardly flaring walls. The axially outward portion of housing 1, adjacent the flange 3, is generally cylindrical in shape and serves as a discharge surface or race 4 for the liquid being discharged from the casing. The discharge race 4 is of a uniform width throughout its circumference as distinguished from the volute type discharge outlets ordinarily associated with an impeller type pump.

Liquid is discharged from the casing through a tangential outlet 5 provided in the discharge race 4. Outlet 5 may, if desired, extend radially of race 4 or at any angle between tangential and radial.

To admit liquid to the inside of the pump, an inlet fitting 6 is secured within an axial opening in cap 2 and is adapted to be connected to a suitable external source of liquid.

The liquid within the casing is moved by a generally cup-shaped rotor 7 which is disposed concentrically of housing 1 with the open end of the rotor facing the inlet connection 6.

As shown in Fig. 2, rotor 7 is formed with a flat base and a generally frustro-conical wall which generally complements the wall of the housing 1. However, rotor 7 may also have a conical shape with the apex of the cone disposed adjacent the base of housing 1.

The outer portion of rotor 7 terminates inwardly of the discharge race 4 of housing 1 so that the liquid being given rotary motion by the rotor will be directed onto the race 4 and hence discharged through outlet 5.

The outer peripheral edge of rotor 7 is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 8 which terminates adjacent housing 1 to minimize the clearance between the housing and the rotor.

As the liquid rotating on discharge race 4 is acting on a stationary surface there may be a tendency for the liquid to decrease in velocity if the liquid makes a number of revolutions on the race 4. To eliminate this possible loss of velocity due to the frictional resistance of the liquid acting on race 4, a plurality of pins 9 may be secured at cardinal points to the outer surface of flange 7 of the rotor. Pins 9 extend axially of the casing in the flow path of the liquid rotating on discharge race 4 and serve to maintain the effective velocity of the liquid. In normal operation the liquid on race 4 is traveling at substantially the same velocity as pins 9 so that the pins will not accelerate the liquid nor cause any eddy currents or turbulence therein.

The rotor is given rotary motion by a drive shaft 10 which is fixedly secured within an axial opening in the base of rotor 7. Drive shaft 10 is journaled within a bearing 11 supported within an axial opening in housing 1.

Leakage of liquid through the bearing 11 is prevented by an annular packing 12 which is disposed about shaft 10 and bears against the outer surface of housing 1. Packing 12 is enclosed by a cap 13. The packing and bearing assembly is retained on shaft 10 by a pair of split rings 14 which engage the shaft inwardly 0f the rotor 7 a a vortex with a cavity or vacuum being created along the axis of the housing.

The liquid is accelerated and travels outwardly along the wall of rotor 7 in a generally helical path and is directed onto the cylindrical race 4.

The high velocity liquid then rotates on race 4 and is discharged through outlet 5. If the back pressure in the discharge line exceeds the pressure head developed by the pump, the liquid will not be discharged but instead will rotate on race 4 until the back pressure is decreased. The loss of energy of the liquid rotating on race 4 is small due to the fact that the race is of uniform width and the liquid traveling thereon encounters little frictional resistance.

If the liquid makes a number of revolutions on the stationary race 4 before being dischargedand thereby begins to lose velocity, the pins 9 function to prevent deacceleration of the liquid and maintain the effective velocity of the same.

The cavity or vacuum created along the axis of the rotor by the liquid vortex tends to draw liquid into the casing through inlet 6. The incoming liquid contacts the liquid traveling outwardly along the Wall of rotor 7 and is given a rotary motion, so that in effect there are two strata of liquid, one moving in a helical path outwardly along the wall of the rotor and the second moving inwardly in a helical path within the outer stratum. This unique liquid flow produces a gradual acceleration in the liquid from the time it enters the casing until it is discharged into race 4 and eliminates any abrupt or sudden acceleration.

In the usual type of pump employing a vortical action the liquid being moved outwardly by the rotor travels along a stationary central core and the frictional resistance of the liquid moving on this stationary core reduces the effective velocity of the same. In the present pump, the liquid being whirled outwardly by the rotor does not move along a stationary core but instead contacts the incoming water to which it imparts a rotary motion so that in effect the liquid is moving against a second stream of liquid which is traveling with the same general rotary motion and this results in a decrease in the frictional resistance as compared to liquid traveling in contact with a stationary core. By decreasing the frictional resistance encountered by the liquid, the pump has a low starting torque and a low torque at maximum pressure.

The pump of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in circumstances which require a uniform substantially non-turbulent liquid flow. The conventional pump employed for this purpose is a delicate expensive apparatus. In contrast to this, the present pump is an inexpensive apparatus for it is formed of a minimum number of simply constructed parts and there are no close tolerances on the fluid moving members. In addition the device is adapted to pump viscous liquids and liquids having high concentrations of suspended solids.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are con templated as within the scope of the following claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A pump comprising a generally frusto-conical shaped casing, an axial liquid inlet in one end of said casing, a liquid outlet in the casing disposed adjacent said inlet but to one side thereof, a hollow generally conical member rotatably mounted within the casing with the open end of the conical member disposed toward the inlet opening and terminating inwardly adjacent said outlet opening with said member being free of any liquid flow restricting means on the hollow interior thereof, means extending axially outwardly from the open end of said conical member to prevent loss of velocity of the liquid in the vicinity of said outlet due to frictional resistance of said casing and means for rotating the conical member to accelerate the water within the chamber in a vortical motion and move the same in a generally helical path from the end of the member disposed farthest from said liquid inlet and toward the outlet opening, said vortical action drawing additional liquid axially into the open end of said member from said inlet and imparting a rotary motion to said additional liquid to gradually accelerate the same and produce a water flow through said pump substantially free of turbulence.

2. A pump comprising a hollow casing, a generally cup-shaped rotor rotatably disposed within said casing and being devoid of a central core to provide the same as a hollow rotor, means to introduce a liquid Within the casing and direct the same axially into the open end of said cup-shaped rotor, a liquid discharge outlet formed in the casing radially outwardly of the open end of said rotor for discharge of liquid under a substantial pressure head, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins secured to the open end of said rotor to prevent loss of velocity of the liquid in the vicinity of said outlet due to the frictional resistance of said casing, and means for rotating said rotor with said rotation imparting a vortical motion to the liquid and accelerating the same outwardly in a generally helical path along the wall of said rotor from the inner closed end of said rotor to the outer open end thereof, said vortical motion tending to draw additional liquid into said casing through said first named means, and said additional liquid traveling axially of said rotor toward the closed end thereof in contact with the liquid moving helically outwardly along the walls of said rotor to impart a rotary motion to the additional liquid and progressively accelerate the same.

3. A pump, comprising a hollow cup-shaped rotor having an open end, a casing disposed around the rotor and having a generally cylindrical discharge race of substantially uniform width extending axially outwardly of the open end of said rotor and said casing defining a chamber disposed in communication with the open end of said rotor and complementing the hollow interior of said rotor, means defining a liquid outlet disposed in said race and extending tangentially thereof and located axially outwardly of the open end of said rotor, means defining a liquid inlet disposed generally centrally of said casing and communicating directly with the open end of the rotor, and means for rotating said rotor to impart a vortical motion to the liquid whereby the liquid is moved axially outwardly in a helically moving layer from the base of the rotor to the race and is discharged from the race through said outlet and incoming liquid is drawn into said chamber and subjected to the rotating action of the helically moving layer of liquid in said rotor to thereby move the incoming liquid axially inwardly in a second helically moving layer to the base of the rotor and provide the incoming liquid with a gradual increase in acceleration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,569,563 Grantham Oct. 2, i 2,747,514 Edwards May 29, 1956 FOREiGN PATENTS 1,462 Great Britain of 1907 649,865 Great Britain Feb. 7. 1941 

